Driving mechanism for vibrators.



J. VIESON.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR VIBRATORS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1912 1,080,609. Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C [A PLANOGRAFH c J. VIESON. muvme MECHANISM FOR VIBRATORS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE19, 1912.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

Iiiill J. VIBSON DRIVING MECHANISM FOR VIBRATORS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19,1912, 1,080,609. Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

3 SHEETS SHEET 3v COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. n. c.

JOSEPH VIESON,

OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR VIBRATOR-S.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

Application filed June 19, 1912. Serial No. 764,543.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josrrn Vinson, citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of \Vayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Driving Mechanism for Vibrators, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in vibrators whereby an oscillating motion is produced capable of being transmitted to a patient for the treatment of certain diseases such as paralysis, locomotor ataxia, neuralgia, certain nervous disorders, nonmalignant tumors, withered or deformed limbs resulting from infantile paralysis, contracted muscles or tendons, etc.

In the treatment of paralysis or like diseases it is well known that mechanical movements properly applied to the affected parts serve to relieve local congestion and inflammation;a proper circulation of the blood through palsied muscles being thus effected from which they derive a supply of nutriment, the waste products being carried away to the excretory organs.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of imparting a vibratory movementto the arms, feet, legs, or other parts of the patients body and of mechanically massaging the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide for either an independent or simultaneous application of the vibratory movement to the arms and legs of the patient and for the treatment of one or more patients at the same time.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the absorption of the machine's natural vibration which might otherwise com municate itself to the floor or building in which it is housed, by providing cushioned journal bearings for the several moving elements whereby varying speeds may be obtained without shock or Another object is to provide means whereby the driving .otor is started and operating at its maximum speed before the load is applied.

Another feature is the means employed to provide for varying the speed of the vibrator without shock or jar.

Another feature is the lever mechanism controlling the switch for starting the motor, the construction being such that when the lever is released following the operation of the switch to start the motor, the load is automatically applied and when again actuated the current to the motor is cut off simultaneously with the load.

Other features of the invention are the interchangeable attachments especially adapted for the requirements of certain parts of the body, whereby either a vibratory, or a rubbing or massage movement may be employed as desired,

Other advantages and improvements will hereafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification :Figure 1 is a front elevation of my device showing the doors of a cabinet inclosing the mechanism open to disclose the construction of the parts housed within. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View on line X-X of Fig. 1, looking toward the left of that figure. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the belt shifting device. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the crank shaft and supporting frame showing the elastic bearing of the shaft supported therein. Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the same. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail showing the crank shaft. in cross-section with the arm connecting the same to one of the rock shafts, disclosing more particularly the means employed for cushioning the vibration of the rock shaft and arm. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail of the frame of the machine showing in section the means employed to cushion its supporting legs.

Referring now to the letters of reference placed upon the drawings:A denotes an inclosing cabinet provided with doors A hinged to its end walls, through which access may be gained to the interior. A is a supporting base.

B, B, indicate a pair of frames connected together by bolts 6 and secured within the cabinet A serving as a frame for the support of the operating mechanism mounted therein,

C denotes an electric motor supported upon a swinging platform C pivot-ed at C at each end of the frame;the drawings however show only one of these pivotal points. 0 is the armature driving shaft of the motor, its forward end being journaled in a bearing in the upstanding end wall C of the swinging platform C. Keyed to the shaft 0 is a cone pulley D.

c is an oil tube for delivering lubricating oil to the bearing of the driving shaft.

Journaled in the frame B directly above the motor is a crank shaft E having rubber or other elastic bearings F supported in the frame B within which is supported a metallic sleeve or thimble 6 adapted to receive the crank shaft E. Keyed to the shaft E is a cone pulley G adapted to be driven by the cone pulley D on the driving or armature shaft, when brought into frictional driving relation through the endless belt H suspended from the cone pulley D.

I is a notched arm provided with a laterally projecting adjustable portion I, slotted to receive the guide bar I and the belt H.

I is a handle mounted on the end of the arm I by means of which the arm may be actuated to shift the belt between the faces of the pulleys D and G.

i is a projecting lug secured to the frame adapted to enter the notches 2" on the underside of the arm I to secure the belt H against accidental displacement from the position to which it is adjusted.

J is an arm connecting the crank portion of the shaft E with an arc-shaped arm K projecting from. the rock shaft K supported in the elastic bearing is in turn housed in the frameB.

7c is a metallic sleeve within the elastic bearing to receive the shaft K.

k is an elastic thimble sleeved on the arc shaped armK adapted to absorb the vibration between the latter and the arm J.

Detachably mounted on the outer end of the rock shaft E is a fitting L secured thereto by a removable transverse pin Z projecting through an aperture provided in the shaft and fitting. The outer end of the fitting L is provided with a tubular socket Z designed to receive a transverse rod (not shown) housed therein adapted to be grasped by the hands of the patient.

J is an arm connect-ing another crank portion of the shaft E with an arc-shaped projecting pin M carried by the rock shaft M in turn supported in elastic bearings m carried by the frame B,the several. parts being similar in construction to the-arm connect-ing. the rock shaft, and the elastic bearings just described. Mounted on the outer end of the rock shaft M is a fitting N hav ing a portion N adapted to receive and support the foot of the patient. n is a suitable strap to secure the foot when in position.

0 is a spring one end of which bears against a suitable casting secured to the base of the machine, the upper end of the.

spring bears against the end of 21 depending rod 0 engaging the underside of the platform the tension of the spring serving to tilt upwardly the movable platform C earrying the motor C and cone pulley D, thereby forcing the latter into frictional driving relation with the cone pulley G by means of the interposed belt H.

P is a swinging lever pivoted at. 79 to the frame of the machine and having a projecting hook-shaped portion 79 adapted to bear against an arm C carried by the tilting platform C.

Q is an electric switch designed to close an electric circuit through the cable R leading from the source of electric supply through the cable R leading to the motor, the construction and operation of the switch being such that it is adapted to be actuated by the lever P, which upon being operated serves to tilt the platform C against the action of the spring 0, thereby forcing the driving cone-shaped pulley D driven by the armature shaft of the motor, out of driving relation with the cone-shaped pulley G of the crank shaft.

A are the supporting legs of the platform A provided with a chambered portion a to receive a rubber or other elastic thimble a in turn adapted to receive the upwardly projecting pins a? of the supporting mem hers (1 Having indicated the several parts by reference letters, the construction and operation of the apparatus will now be readily understood.

The patient about to be treated is seated facing the end of the machine with his hands gripping the tubular socket Z of the fitting L or if it is desired to multiply the degree of vibration, a transverse rod (not shown) of suitable length is fitted to the socket Z which is grasped by the hands of the patient-,it being obvious that by increasing the relative distancethe hands are spaced apart in grasping the rod will serve to multiply the degree of vibration imparted to the patient. The lever P is then thrust toward theswitch Q which upon contacting with the switch plug serves to close the circuit between the source of electric supply and the motor C through the connecting wires R and R. The closing of the switch Q. is preceded however by the tilting of the platform C against the action of the spring 0, due to the hooked portion 7) of the lever P bearing against the projecting. arm C carried by the tilting platform, thereby forcmg the cone pulley D out of frictional driving contact with the cone pulley G, through the interposed belt H. Thus the motor is started, and suflicient time given for it to reach its maximum speed before applying the load, thereby avoiding any chance of burning out the motor. Upon releasing the lever P the spring 0 again becomes operative forcing upward the swinging platform upon which the motor and driving cone pulley D is mounted, thus bringing the cone pulley D into driving relation with the cone pulley G, through the belt H. The crank shaft E is now rotated by the cone pulley G thereby operating the connecting arms J and J which actuate the rock shafts K and M, imparting an oscillating motion to each of the latter shafts. To increase or reduce the speed with which these shafts are operated, it is only necessary to shift the belt H interposed between the cone pulleys D and G. This is accomplished by means of the notched arm I which may be manually drawn forward or forced back as required, the notched bar providing for securing it at any desired point in order that any required speed may be maintained as long as desired.

\Vhile the drawings show the fittings L and N at one end of the machine only, it is obvious that like fittings or other suitable fittings may be keyed to the opposite end of the respective rock shafts whereby one or more patients may be treated at the same time,

If it is desired to impart a vibratory movement to the foot or leg of the patient, the foot is strapped into the fitting N; care being taken to aline the leg of the patient as near as may be with that of the rock shaft M. In place of the attachments L and N other attachments may be supplied adapted for rubbing or massaging any affected part, or for example the affected part may be brought to bear against the tubular socket Z of the fitting L, when it will be obvious that a rubbing or massage movement will be obtained upon the machine being operated.

hen it is desired to suspend further tr atment it is only necessary to again force the lever P against the plug of the switch Q which action breaks the circuit between the motor and the source of supply and siniul taneously releases the load from its driving relation with the cone pulley of the motor.

The natural vibration between the movable parts of the machine itself which might have a tendency to jar the floor on which it stands, or the building in which it is housed, are absorbed by the elastic bushings in the journal bearings and at the connections between the moving parts of the machine. By this means I am enabled to produce a ma-- chine which is extremely quiet in its operation and which serves to absorb the usual vibration between the operating parts of machines of this character.

lVhile I have described and shown the apparatus driven by an electric motor. and I prefer to so construct it, it is obvious that any other suitable motive power may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, a tilting platform journaled in the frame, a driving element journaled in said tilting platform, a prime mover for operating the driving element, a crank shaft journaled in the frame, a driven element mounted upon the shaft adapted to be operated by the driving element, a rock shaft operably connected with the crank shaft. means for forcing the driving element out of driving relation with the driven element, and means for restoring it to its normal condition, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, a tilting platform journaled in the frame, a driving element journaled in said tilting platform, an electric motor for operating the driving element, a crank shaft journaled in the frame, a driven element mounted upon the crank shaft adapted to be operated by the driving element, a rock shaft operably connected with the crank shaft. means for closing the circuit between the source of electrical energy and the motor prior to the operation of the rock shaft, and means adapted to automatically force the driving element into operable relation with the driven element following the starting of the motor. substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, a swinging platform journaled in the frame. an electric motor mounted upon said platform, a driving cone-shaped pulley mounted upon the armature shaft of the motor, a crank shaft ournaled in the frame. a cone pulley mounted upon the crank shaft adapted to be operated by the pulley on the armature shaft. a belt interposed between said pulleys, means for shifting said belt whereby the speed of the driven pulley may be regulated. means for maintaining said pulleys in frictional relation, an electric switch for closing the circuit between the source of electrical supply and the motor. and means adapted to insure the closing of said switch and to force the pulleys out of driving relation with each other preceding the closing of the circuit, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the character described. a frame. a vibrating means supported by theframe. a crank shaft for operating the vibrating means. a prime mover for driving the crank shaft, said prime mover being normally in driving engagement with the crank shaft. means for first disengaging the prime mover from the rank shaft and then starting the prime mover, and means for restoring the prime mover into driving contact with the crank shaft.

5. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, a swinging platform journaled in the frame, a motor mounted upon the platform, a cone-shaped pulley mounted upon its armature shaft, a crank shaft journaled in the frame, a coneshaped pulley mounted upon the crank shaft adapted to be driven by the driving cone pulley on the armature shaft, a belt interposed between said pulleys, means adapted to close the circuit between the electric motor and its source of electrical supply and to release the driving pulley from driving relation with the driven pulley prior to the starting of the motor, and means for restoring it to its driving relation with the driven pulley following the starting of the motor, substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, a swinging platform journaled in the frame, a motor mounted upon the platform, a cone-shaped pulley mounted upon its armature shaft, a crank shaft journaled in the frame, a coneshaped pulley mounted upon the crank shaft adapted to be driven by the driving cone pulley on the armature shaft, a belt interposed between said pulleys, means adapted to close the circuit between the electric motor and its source of electrical supply and to release the driving pulley from driving relation with the driven pulley prior to the starting of the motor. means for restoring it to its driving relation with the driven pulley following the starting of the motor, and means for shifting said belt to change the speed of the rock shaft, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, a tilting plat form journaled in the frame, a prime mover mounted on the tilting platform, a cone pulley mounted upon the drive Shaft of the prime mover, a crank shaft journaled in the frame, a cone pulley mounted upon the crank shaft adapted to be operated by the cone pulley 0f the prime mover, a belt interposed between said pulleys, means for shifting said belt to regulate the speed of the driven pulley, a rock shaft operably connected with the crank shaft. a detachable fitting secured to the end of the rock shaft adapted to transmit the motion of the rock shaft to the patient under treatment, means for forcing the driving pulley out of driving relation with the driven pulley prior to starting the prime mover, and means for restoring said pulley to its driving relation with the driven pulley following the starting of the prime mover.

8. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, a crank shaftjournaled in the frame, vibrating means operated by the crank shaft prime mover supported by the frame, driving connections between the prime mover and the crank shaft, and means operating to first disengage the prime mover from the crank shaft and then to start the prime mover.

9. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, a crank shaft journaled in the frame, vibrating means opc ated by the crank shaft a prime mover supported by the frame, driving connections between the prime mover and the crank shaft, means operating to first disengage the prime mover from the crank shaft and then to start the prime mover, and means for restoring the prime mover into driving relation with the crank shaft.

10. In a machine of the character de scribed, a frame. a swinging platform pivetally mounted at each end of the frame, a motor carried by the swinging platform, a driving shaft operated by the motor, a crank shaft journaled in the frame. vibrating means operated by the crank shaft gearing interposed between the driving shaft and the crank shaft, said gearing normally maintaining the driving and crank shafts in driving relation, manually movable means for first disengaging the driving shaft from the crank shaft upon movement of said means a predetermined distance and for starting the motor upon the movement of said means to the limit of its l'novement, and means operating upon the release of the aforementioned means for restoring the driving shaft into driving relation with the crank shaft.

'11. In a machine of the character described. a suliporting frame. a crank shaft journalcd in the frame. vibrating means operated by the crank shaft a motor supported by the frame. driving connections between the motor and the crank shaft, a lever for disengaging the motor from the crank shaft upon the initial movement of said lever, means carried by the lever for starting the motor upon the limit of the movement of said lever, means for restoring the motor into driving relation with the crank shaft upon the release of said lever, and manually controlled means for varying the speed of the crank shaft.

In testimony whereof. I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH VIESON.

itnesses GRACE E. \VYNKooP, CLARA RANKIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

